Sighting device for portable guns.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

` J. KURIG. SIGHTING' DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.

. APPLIAOATIOI FILED APR. 25,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

///lrfff/ THE NoRRls PETERS co., WASH/Noren. n. c.

PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

J. KURIG.

.SIGHTIG DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.

APrLmATloN FILED un, 25, 190s.

- a snnfrs-snm 2.

No. 842,564. PATENTED JAN. 29,` 1907. l

' J. KURIG.

- SIGHTING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.`

APPLIOATION FILED APR.25.1905.

va sHEnTs-sHBET a.

rHE NnRRls Ps1-ERS co., wAsmNoraN. D. c.

TNTTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JOSEF KUEIG, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

SI'GHTING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed AprilZ, 1905. Serial No. 257,322.

To (t/ 'tr/71,0711, t 'litrti/ colto/Wn:

Be it known that I, JOSEF KURIG, a subject of the Emperor' of Germany, and a resi-V dent of 16 Holzstrasse, Essen-onethe-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sighting Devices for Portable Guns, of which the following is a specification.

: The present invention relates to sighting devices for portable guns having means tor eliminating the effect of an uneven position of the wheels. In order to eliminate the inn iluence of the inclined position of the wheels in portable guns which are aimed by means oi a sighting attachment carried by the barrel or by the cradle, it has hitherto been customary to arrange the attaching-sleeve or guide-box to swing about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun-barrel. lfhen the influence of the inclined position of the wheels is to be eliminated in such guns, the necessary 'elevation must iirst be imparted to the gun-barrel. rThe sighting attachment is then swung around the aforesaid axis into the vertical position from the position that is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. Finally, the sightingdine is directed at the target by means. ot' the horizontal.

training mechanism and, it necessary, by means o1c the elevating mechanism. If the sighting-line passes through the target, the gun is directed at the target with elimination of the influence of the inclined position of the wheels.

"i he object of the-present invention is to make it possible to eliminate the influence of the inclined position ot the wheels, also in guns which do not have such a sighting attachment and in which, therefore, elimination oi the influence otl the inclined position of the wheels cannot be accomplished in the abovedescribed manner. In high-elevation guns, for instance, it is not practicable to use an ordinary sighting attachment in view of the generally required great elevations, tor which reason such guns are preferably directed by means of a level-quadrant.

In the. accompanying drawings are shown two embodiments of the invention, Figure' 1 being a side view, partly in section, oi one embodiment ot the invention Fig. 2, a section online 2 2, Fig. 1, seen from the left, the

sight-telescope being shown in front view;`

Fig. 3, a view corresponding to Fig. 1, partly in section, on line 3 3, Fig. 2, and seen from the right; Fig. 4, a view corresponding to Fig. 2 with some of the parts in other positions Fig. 5, a section on line 5 5, Fig. 1, seen from above, and Fig. 6 a section on line 6 6, Fig. 2, seen from the right, and Fig. 7 being a side view, partly in section, of another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8, a section on line 8 8, Fig.. 7, seen from the left, the sighttelescope being shown in iront view; and Fig.' 9 a section on line 9 9, Fig. 8, seen from above.

Reference'w ill first be had to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The approximately Ydisk-shaped casing of the sight device is provided with a dovetailed base a, which when the sight device is in use engages a dovetailed groove in the breech of the gunbarrel. The casing is closed at one side'by a removable countersunk cover a, Figs. 2 and 4, and has an opening at the top in which a guide-piece a2 is rotatably but nonslidably arranged. In the casing-wall a3 opposite the cover a a level-quadrant O O, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, is journaled by, means of a trunnion c2. but non-slidably arranged in a housing E, engages with a toothed part of the quadrant C G. to the casing of the sight device by means of a trunnion c, Figs. 3 and 5, which is journaled in the casing-walls a3. A spring e2, Figs. 3 and 5, having one of its ends engaging the housing E and the other end engaging the casingwall a3, tends to swing the housing E upwardly, thereby retaining the worm C3 in engagement with the teeth of the quadrant C. The described arrangement of the worin-housing E makes it possible to bring the worm C3 out of engagement with the teeth of the quadrant C by pressing the handwheel ot the worm, whereupon the operator may swing the quadrant ,C rapidly by hand on the trunnion c2. The rough adjustment of the quadrantv C is indicatedby means of a scale c4, Fig. 1, on the wall a3, which is visible through a window c4, Fig. 1', in the quadrant C, and by means of a mark c5 on the window c4. The 'fine adjustment of the quadrant O may be indicated by means of a mark e3, Fig. 1, on the worin-housing E and a scale c, arranged on a drum of the hand-wheel of the worm C3. v The trunnion c2 of the quadrant C is rigidly connected with a 'toothed segment D, Figs. 2

A worm C3, which is rotatably The housing E is rotatably connected IOO to 4, which is located within the casing of the sight device and meshes with a toothed seg` Iment L. -The latter is rotatably arranged in the wall (1.3 by means oi a centrally-perforated trunnion Z. The segments D and L have the same radius and same number oi teeth. A disk K, Figs. 2 and 4, is provided with a trunnion r, which projects into the perforation of the trunnion Z and which is non-rotatably connected with the segment L and held from horizontal movement in the Wall a3. The disk K lies against the segments D and L, and on the side opposite the trunnion 7c it is provided with an eye 7a2. (See also Fig. 6.) The eye k2 receives a bolt J, which passes through two eyes 7L of a disk H, Figs. 2 and 4 which eyes abut against the eye k2. The disk H is rotatably connected with a dish-shaped disk G by means of a central trunnion h2. A nut h3, screwed into the trunnion 7b2, prevents the disk G from moving out of engagement with the disk H. Tlge trunnions 7c 7b2 are coaxially arranged relatively to each other and their axes are in plane with the axis of the bolt J. The disk G, which in the following will be referred to as the telescopecarrier, is by means of a boss g, Figs. 2 to 4, connected with the plate f, carrying a telescope F. A part or tle boss g is square and is guided in a cut o5, Figs. 2 and 4, in the guide-piece c2 in such a manner that the telescope-carrier G is incapable of partaking of a turning movement of the disk H around the axis of the trunnion 7b2.

The relative arrangement of theA abovementioned parts is such that when the sight device is placed for use on the breech of the gun-barrel the axes of tle trunnions 7c h2 are parallel ,to the axis of the horizontal trunnions of the gun, and the-axis of the bolt J extends parallel to the axis ot the bore of tle gun-barrel when the marks c5 e3 register n ith the zero-point of the corresponding scales. If in this position of the quadrant C the axis of the bere of the gun-barrel is horizontal, the level C registers.

In the casing of the sight device and close above the base a, a screw-spindle M, having right-hand threads, is rotatably arrangod and held from longitudinal movement. The spindle M engages with a nut M', which lios With a plane surface against the lower wall er' the casing of the sight device, so that when the spindle M is turned the nut M moves longitudinally. The nut M is provided with a pair ci catches m2, having curved faces engaging the lower edge of the telescope-carrier G. Thus by turning the spindle M the telescope-carrier may be sxmng on the bolt J, and thereby be brought in a vertical position during the inclined position of the Wheels. A level N, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, which is secured on the platef, shows whether the telescopecarrier assumes a vertical position.

Let it be assumed that'in the gun to be aimed the wheels occupy an inclined position, causing the exis oi the horizontal trunnions of the gun to inclino to the right relative to the horizontal plane looking trom the breech of the gun-barrel. ln order to direct the gun, the sight device is shoved into the breech of the gun-barrel, which is in the loading position. In the present instance it is for the sake of simplicity assumed that the barrel is horizontal in the loading position. The level-quadrant C C is thereupon adjusted to the elevation corresponding to the distance of the target. For this purpose the quadrant C is by means of' the worm C3 swung around the axis et the trunnion c2 until the marks c5 and e3 register with the scaleline corresponding to the distance of the target. It the elevation be high, the worm Q is fn st brought out of engagement with the quadrant C in the aforesaid manner and the quadrant is roughly adjusted, and the line adjustment of the quadrant is accomplished bymcans of the worm c3. l/Vhen the quadrant C is adjusted, due regard must of course be raken to the position of the target above or below the horizontal plane through the place where the gun is located, (the terrain angle.) This is done by a ljusting the quadant at an angle corresponding to the distance of the target plus or mints the terrain. angle. The toothed segment D partakos of the tuining ci the quaoront C, thereby turning the toothed segment L the same angle in the opposite direction. The trunnion r, the disk K, the bolt J, and the disk H partake of the turning of the segment L, while the telescope-carrier retains its original position. Through the adjrstinent of the quadrant C the axis ci the bolt J has attained relative to the horizontal plane an inclination the direction and amount of which corresponds to the elevation which must be inparted to the gun-barrel. The spindle M is -thereupon turned clockwise and the nut M slides to the right, Fig. 4, and carries along with it the telescope-carrier through the n'iedium of the catches m2. The disk H partakes of the movement 'of the telescope-carrier', which, with the telescope,swings around the axis of the bolt J. During the movement of the telescope-carrier the square part of the boss g slides in the cut a5 of the guide-piece e2, thereby causing a slight turning of the latter. The turning of the spindle M is continued un til the level N registers, in which case the telescope-carrier assumes a vertical position., Fig. 4. The sighting-line is thereupon directed at the target by means of the elevating mechanism and the horizontal training mechanism of the gun and finally the elevation corresponding to the distance of the target is imparted to the gun-barrel. The lastmentioned operation is accomplished by lowering the breech of the gun-barrel by means of the elevating mechanism until-the level C ICO IOS

registers. Tf this is the case, the gun has beendireoted at the target and the influence of the inclined position of the wheels has been eliminated, as will be understood upon consideration of the following explanation: If the longitudinal axis of the bolt J be regarded as the axis of the bore of a gun-barrel, there is no doubt that such a gun is directed at the target with elimination of the inclined position of the wheels. This must, however, also be the case with the real gun when the necessary elevation has been imparted thereto, for the reason that the axis of the bore of the gun has partaken of the lateral adjustment of the longitudinal axis of thebolt J, and 'the two axes must therv efore extend parallel to one another when they are elevated to the same extent.

The sight device (illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9) comprises an approximately spherical casing O O', having its tw parts screwed together. The part O is connected with a base-plate o3 by means of a threaded bolt 02. The casing O O' is surrounded by a spherical telescope-carrier and serves as guide for the same. The telescope-carrier consists of ltwo parts Q Q', each provided with a connectingflange g2 and g3. The lower part Q' is provided with a circular cut, through which the bolt o2 projects so as to move freely in all directions. The upper part Q of the telescope-carrier is provided with a boss Q4, Fig. 8, into which is screwed a plate r', carrying a telescope R. A level Q5, Fig. 7, is rigidly connected with the part Q. A worm S, Fig. S, is rotatably but non-slidably arranged in the boss g4. The worm S meshes with a toothed sector T, the arrangement and shape of which is shown in Fig. 8. A spring t' serves the purpose of retaining the sector T in engagement with the worm S. 'The plate r', carrying the telescope R,Vis providedv withI a pair of downwardly-projecting flanges r2, Figs? 7 and 8, to which a housing. U' for a worm U is secured. The worm U is rotatably but non-slidably arranged in the housing U' and engages with the teeth of a rotatably-arranged level-quadrant V V', Figs. 7 and 8, which is provided with a scale o2, Fig. 7, for the rough adjustment. On the outer flange r2 is secured a hand r3, Fig. 8, along which passes scale o2 when the quadrant is adjusted. For the fine adjustment of the quadrant V there is provided a mark u2, Fig. 7, on the wormhousing U', and a scale a3, Fig. 7, on a drum of the hand-wheel of the worm U. The quadrant is rigidly connected with a conewheel W, Figs. 8 and 9, which is journaled in the flanges g2 g3 of the telescope-carrier Q Q' through the medium of a trunnion w3. 'I he trunnion w3 of the cone-wheel W is provided with a central perforation receiving one end of a shaft X. The other end of the shaft X rests in a bearing in the telescope-carrier Q Q', which is diametrically opposite the bearing for the trunnion w3 of the cone-wheel W. IThe conevlieel lV meshes with a cone-wheel W", Fig. S, which is rotatably but non-slidably arranged on a shaft Z. The shaft Z, which rests in a bearing g5, Fig. 8, in the telescope-carrier Q Q', is disposed at a right angle to the shaft X and articulated thereto by means of an eye Z'. The cone-wheel W" meshes with a cone-wheel WQ, Figs. S and 9, which is non-rotatably connected with the shaft X and held from sliding movement on the same. The cone-wheels `W lV' WV2 are of same diameter and have same number of teeth. rlhe shaft X is provided with a perforation intersecting the axis of the shaft at a right angle and terminating in two eyes 902, Fig. 9. incides with a plane through the center of the casing O G' and of the telescope-carrier Q Q'. rThe perforation of the shaft X and of the eyes Q02 register with two eyes 7i' p2, Fig. 9, of a ring P, (see also Fig. 8,) which is inserted between the treaded part 04 of the casing part O' and an annular flange 05 on the casing part O. The perforation of the shaft X of the eyes x' x2 and of the eyes p' p2 of the ring P serves the purpose of receiving a pivotbolt Y. 'The casing O O' is provided with cuts o o7 o8, Figs. 7 and 8, and the boss g4 is provided with a recess g, Fig. 8, in order to permit a swinging movement of the telescope carrier Q Q' and the parts connected therewith relative to the casing O O' when the infiuence of the inclined position of the wheels is eliminated.

'i he relative arrangement of the several parts of the sight device is such that when the sight device is secured in the position of use, with its base-plate o3 on the breech of the gun-barrel, the axis of the shaft X is par- 'll'he axis of the said perforation co-` ICO allel to the axis of the horizontal trunnions of the gun and the axis of the bolt Y extends parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun-barrel when the hand r3 and the mark u2 register with the Zero-point of the corresponding scales. rlhe level V' registers when with this position of the several parts of the sight device the axis of the bore of the gun-barrel is horizontal, while the level Q5 registers when the position of the axle of the wheels of the gun is horizontal or when the influence of the inclined position of the wheels has been eliminated.

The handling and operation of the lastdescribed sight device correspond in the main points to the handling and operation of the first-described embodiment. The adjustment of the level-quadrant V V' to the elevation corresponding to the distance of the target and to the terrain angle, if any, is accomplished by turning the worm U. The swinging movement of the quadrant V effects a turning of the cone-wheel W in the same direction and through the same angle. Through the medium of the cone-wheel W' IIO the cone-wheel W turns the coneewheel W? and the shaft X through the same angle, but in the opposite direction. By reason of the turning of the shaft X the bolt Y swings througi the same angle as does the quadrant V and carries the ring P along with it. When the quadrant V has been adjusted to the elevation corresponding to the distance of the target, the bolt Y consequently has an inclination relative to the horizontal plane, which with regard to amount and direction corre sponds to the elevation which must be irnparted to the gun-barrel. Thereupon the telescope-carrier Q Q is swung, by means of theworm S, around the axis of the bolt Y until the level Q5 registers. When this has been done, the sighting-line is directed at the target by means of the elevating mechanism and the horizontal training mechanism of the gun, and iinally the breech of the gun-barrel is lowered until the level V registers. The gun has then been directed at the target with elimination of the influence of the inclined position of the wheels.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is l. A portable gun-sight device having swinging movement for eliminating the iniluence of the inclined position of the gunwheels, and having the part on which said swinging movement takes place, mounted to swing independently of the gun-barrel about an axis parallel to the axis of the horizontal trunnions of the gun whereby the iniiuence of the inclined positions of the wheels may be eliminated before the necessary elevation is imparted to the gun.

2. A portablel gun-sight device having swinging movement for eliminating the inv[luence of the inclined position of the gunwheels, and having the support on which said swinging movement takes place, mounted to swing independently of the gun-barrel about an axis parallel to the axis of the horizontal trunnions of the gun whereby the inuence of the inclined positions of the wheels may be eliminated before the necessary elevation is imparted to the gun; the sight device being provided with a level device, capable of adjustment in unison with said support. Y

3. In a portable gun-sight device, the com bination of an adjustable level device, a bolt mounted to swing independently of the gunbarrel, about an axis parallel to the axis of the horizontal trunnions of the gun whereby the iniiuence oi the inclined positions of the wheels may be eliminated before the necessary elevation is imparted to the gun, means transmitting motion from the level device to the bolt, and a telescope carrier having swinging movement on said bolt for eliminating the influence of' theinclined position of the gun-wheels.

4. In a portable gun-sight device, the combination of an adjustable level device, a bolt mounted to swing independently of the gun barrel, about an axis parallel to the axis of the horizontal trunnions of the gun whereby the influence of the inclined positions of the wheels may be eliminated before the necessary elevation is imparted to the gun, means transmitting motion from the level device to the bolt, a telescope-carrier, a connection between the bolt and the telescope-carrier permitting relative swinging movement of the carrier andthe bolt and means for swinging the carrier and the connection on the bolt 'for eliminating the iniluence of the inclined position of the gun-wheels.

5. In a portable gun-sight device, the combination of an adjustable level device for iixing the elevation of the gun-barrel, and a telescope-carrier mounted to remain sta tionary when the level device is adjusted and capable of being swung into a vertical position independently of the level device.

6. In a portable gun-sight device, a sightcarrier, an axis extending longitudinally of the barrel about which said carrier is adjustable to eliminate the inlluence of the inclined position of the gun-wheels, an axis parallel to the horizontal gun-trunnions about which the first-mentioned axis is turnable whereby the influence of the inclined positions of the wheels may be eliminated before the necessary elevation is imparted to the gun, means for determining the direction and amount of turning of the iirst-mentioned axis, a level movable with said axis, and a level on the sight-carrier.

IOO

The foregoing speciiication signed at Dsseldorf this 8th day oi' April, 1905,

JOSEF KURIG.

In presence oi:-a

PETER LIEBER, WILLIAM EssENwEIN. 

